AF50UK 2022: UK’s top 50 asset finance companies show their worth

The annual AF50 is the UK’s most influential survey of business and equipment lessors, which tracks the health of the market and identifies the key trends that are set to have an impact on the sector.

This year’s report, sponsored by Alfa, covers the period when business was most directly impacted by Covid restrictions as the pandemic crisis was at its height. Yet the data shows the total net investment in leasing for the top 50 firms was £40.9 billion, a dip of just 2.4%, demonstrating the sector’s strengths and resilience.

There have been winners and losers during the crisis, but the AF50 data shows new entrants are making their mark while new opportunities, notably in financing “green” assets, are opening up.

In addition to profiling the largest companies in the UK asset finance arena, the report includes in-depth analysis of the industry.

You can download a free copy of the report by completing the form at the end of this article.

This year’s AF50 UK includes:

• Full listing of AF50 companies ranked by net investment in business equipment leasing
• Largest fleet lessors
• Largest captive lessors
• Largest manufacturer lessors
• Breakdown of the market by location of ownership
• AF50 by key performance indicators, including the fastest growing companies
• Payroll analysis
• Loan performance analysis

Industry leaders also provide their outlook on a changing industry in this year’s report.

The annual AF50 UK is published by Asset Finance Connect in association with Asset Finance Policy.

Julian Rose, director of Asset Finance Policy and compiler of the AF50 UK data, said the industry had demonstrated its ability to adapt, commenting: “Often the AF50 serves to demonstrate mainly just how mature the UK asset finance industry is, with only limited changes to the participants and key metrics. This year is very different. On the one hand, the majority of firms saw their loan books fall in their 2021 data, but on more positive note, we also see some firms having been able to not only maintain their book size but achieve growth in the midst of the pandemic.”

The survey is based on audited and publicly available accounts or other published information, using the latest data filed at Companies House.

Edward Peck, chief executive officer of Asset Finance Connect, said: “This year’s AF50 provides a detailed picture of the industry as it undergoes unprecedented change. Asset finance companies have played a critical role in supporting UK industry during the pandemic and they will be the foundation of a sustainable recovery in the years to come.”